Clair de Lune, the 2012 album from leading soprano Natalie Dessay, celebrates the 150th anniversary of Claude Debussy's birth with a brilliant survey of his early vocal works, including four World Premiere recordings of unpublished songs reflecting the young composer's forbidden love for the soprano wife of one of his patrons. One of the unpublished songs, 'Les Elfes,' includes chord sequences taken from Wagner's famous 'Ride of the Valkyries' (Apocalypse Now), while another ('Romance') traces the wild mood swings and flights of fancy that accompany a restless love. This new album follows up on Dessay's Grammy-nominated Cleopatra, a collection of arias from Handel's opera Giulio Cesare, and coincides with the DVD release and Met Opera performances of Verdi's La Traviata.
1 La Demoiselle Élue, for Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Female Chorus & Orchestra, L. 62 - Claude Debussy & Jacques-Émile Blanche (18:44)
2 Les Elfes, Song for Voice & Piano - Claude Debussy & Jacques-Émile Blanche (7:19)
3 L'archet ("Elle Avait de Beaux Cheveux Blonds"), Song for Voice & Piano, L. 46 - Claude Debussy & Jacques-Émile Blanche (2:58)
4 Coquetterie Posthume ("Quand Je Mourrai, Qu L'on Me Mette"), Song for Voice & Piano, L. 39 - Claude Debussy & Jacques-Émile Blanche (3:42)
5 Chanson Triste ("On Entend Un Chant Sur L'eau Dans la Brume"), Song for Voice & Piano, L. 47 - Claude Debussy & Jacques-Émile Blanche (1:17)
6 Regret ("Devant Le Ciel D'ÉTÉ, Tiède Et Callme"), Song for Voice & Piano, L. 55 - Claude Debussy & Jacques-Émile Blanche (2:35)
7 La Romance D'ariel ("Au Long DS Ces Montagnes Douces"), Song for Voice & Piano, L. 54 - Claude Debussy & Jacques-Émile Blanche (4:30)
8 FLÔTS, Palmes Et Sables ("Loin Des Yeux Du Monde"), Song for Voice & Piano, L. 25 - Claude Debussy & Jacques-Émile Blanche (4:54)
9 Rondel Chinois ("Sur Le Lac Bordé D'azalée"), Song for Voice & Piano, L. 17 - Claude Debussy & Jacques-Émile Blanche (3:13)
10 Les Cloches ("Les Feuilles S'ouvraient"), Song for Voice & Piano, L. 79/2 - Claude Debussy & Jacques-Émile Blanche (1:47)
11 Romance ("L'âme Evaporéee Est Souffrante"), Song for Voice & Piano, L. 79/1 - Claude Debussy & Jacques-Émile Blanche (1:53)
12 Fête Galante ("Voilà Sylvandre Et Lycas Et Myrtil"), Song for Voice & Piano, L. 23 - Claude Debussy & Theodore de Banville (2:03)
13 En Sourdine ("Calmes Dans Le Demi-Jour'), Song for Voice & Piano, L. 28 (First Version) - Claude Debussy & Jacques-Émile Blanche (2:43)
14 Apparition ("La Lune S'attristait"), Song for Voice & Piano, L. 53 - Claude Debussy & Jacques-Émile Blanche (3:19)
15 Pierrot ("Le Bon Pierrot Que la Foule Contemple"), Song for Voice & Piano, L. 15 - Claude Debussy & Theodore de Banville (1:50)
16 Clair de Lune ("Votre Âme Est Un Paysage Choisi"), Song for Voice & Piano, L. 32 - Claude Debussy & Jacques-Émile Blanche (2:31)
17 Pantomime ("Pierrot Qui N'a Rien D'un Clitandre"), Song for Voice & Piano, L. 31 - Claude Debussy & Jacques-Émile Blanche (2:32)
18 Nuit D'étoiles ("Nuit D'étoiles, Sous Tes Voiles"), Song for Voice & Piano, L. 4 - Claude Debussy & Theodore de Banville (3:09)
Clair de Lune, the 2012 album from leading soprano Natalie Dessay, celebrates the 150th anniversary of Claude Debussy's birth with a brilliant survey of his early vocal works, including four World Premiere recordings of unpublished songs reflecting the young composer's forbidden love for the soprano wife of one of his patrons. One of the unpublished songs, 'Les Elfes,' includes chord sequences taken from Wagner's famous 'Ride of the Valkyries' (Apocalypse Now), while another ('Romance') traces the wild mood swings and flights of fancy that accompany a restless love. This new album follows up on Dessay's Grammy-nominated Cleopatra, a collection of arias from Handel's opera Giulio Cesare, and coincides with the DVD release and Met Opera performances of Verdi's La Traviata.
